A great way to understand and calculate your solar power needs is to add an energy meter to your home. This will enable you to track your energy consumption habits even before you install a PV system, and thereby determine how large your PV system needs to be to offset your energy usage.
The capacity utilization factor (CUF) of a solar power plant is calculated by dividing the actual energy generated by the plant over a given time period, by the maximum possible energy that could have been generated at the plant’s rated capacity over that same time period. It is calculated using the following formula: Where:
Temperature Coefficient of Solar PV Module NOCT can vary from 45°C to 49°C6. Modules with lower NOCT will have better system performance factors. Degradation rates can vary from 0.1% to 1.1% per year7. Modules with lower degradation rates will produce more total energy over their lifetime.
Future development of the PV generation calculation may include accounting for the effect of different inverter types, tracking systems, module efficiency, temperature co-efficients, Normal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT), degradation rate, changes in hourly system performance factors, module-level power electronics, and bifacial solar modules.
To qualify, there will often be a deployment cap that will limit the size of your system. Determining your local solar subsidies is the first step to calculate your solar power needs. Net Metering: Your utility company gives you credit for the solar energy you produce but do not use.
Don’t forget that electricity usage might be higher in some months (i.e., if you use extra lights and heating during the winter). A great way to understand and calculate your solar power needs is to add an energy meter to your home.